Landscape Characterisation: The Living Landscapes Approach in the UK

This paper describes refinements to the process of landscape characterisation that have been developed by the Living Landscapes Project (LLP) within the context of the now widely adopted approach to Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) in England. The Living Landscapes project was developed in an attempt to improve the consistency of LCA at different spatial scales within the UK. This was achieved by the introduction of the Land Description Unit (LDU) into the process of LCA, enabling users to develop a consistent spatial framework based upon relatively homogeneous landscape units that reflect differences in the natural and cultural dimensions of landscapes at different scales. The paper describes the method and demonstrates its potential for improved mapping within the Peak District National Park, in the UK.